, 1887-02-25
BERTHINE'S CAPTIYES,

lave the rustling of the snow falling upon
The cedars rs il had beer falling since
midday. a fine, powdery m that spread
upon the branches a frozen moss, upon
the frs n coating of silver and upon the
roads and pathways an immense carpet,
soft and white, and which intensified the
stiffness of this sea of trees.
Before the door of a forester hut a
young woman with her sleeves rolled up
to the elbows was cutting wood with an
ax upon a stone. Tall, supple and strong.
she was a true daughter of the forest and
the child and wife of a forester. Sud
denly "A voice came from the interior of
the house:
we are alone this evening, Berthine:
cDme in and make everything fast. There
may DO Prussians as well as wolves in the
forest tonight
The wood chopper responded with IA re-
sounding stroke of the AK.
said: besides, there is no need of ear
yet; it is still daylight" Nevertheless,
81. brought in her fagots and sticks Of
wood, and piling them up in the chimney
corrcr went out again to close up the
she'd; then re-entering the room she
pushed to the door and locked and bolted
il.
Her mother, an old and wrinkled
woman whom age had made timid and
nervous. was seated by the fireside spin
nmg.
Il do not like it, Berthine.' said she;
when you father is from home. two
women are not strong
'But l am not afraid" the girl re-
sponded: II can defend myself from a
wolf or n Prussian all the same" and
she glanced significantly at a huge re-
volver suspended above the chimney
piece.
Berthine's husband had been in the
army ever since the beginning of the
Prussian invasion, and these two women
had remained alone with only the old
father, Nicholas Pichon, the gaInekeeper,
as he was called in the neighborhood.
who had o~bstinately refused to leave his
dwelling and seek protection in the city.
The city nearest the Pichon hut was
Rethel, a quaint and ancient place perched
upon a high rock. Filled with patriot
ism, the citizens had decided to resist in
vaders-to shut themselves up, and if nee
essary sustain a siege such as had taken
place in the time Of their forefathers-for
twice already the inhabitants Of Rethel,
in the days of Henry ~ and o XIV,
had rendered themselves thus illustrious.
Purchasing a supply of cannon and guns,
%equipping "a militia, n forming them
selves into battalions and companies, they
exercised daily on the Place d'Armes.
Bakers, grocers, butchers, notaries, law
yers, cabinet makers, librarians and even
druggists Unanswered in turn at the regti-
lation hour under the of NJ.
Lavigne. an ~ex-ofiicer of dragons, and
to-day, thanks to his having married
the daughter and heiress Of the shop
kceper, Raredan, the richest and most in
fluential man in the city.
And thus they patiently waited the
Russians, the Prussians who never came,
though twice they had been seen in the
forest, in the ncighborhood of Pichon's
hut, who had run to warn the city.
This house of Nicholas Pichon's served.
~ n sort of advance post in the fores. OF
Aveline; and twice a week the old man
went into the city to Purchase provisions
and to carry 10 the citizens the latest news
ottt campaign.
His errand to Rethel to-day was TO an
nounce that u small detachment of Ger
man infantry had halted near his house
about 2 O'Clock that morning. They did
not remain long, nor did he know the di-
rection they had taken. but all the same,
as soon as they had gone again Pichon
called his dogs and started for the city,
instructing his wife and daughter to bolt
and barricade the house when night
should fan, and on no account to open
the door. no matter who might knock.
Berthine was afraid of nothing, but the
old woman trembled md constantly re-
peated: ut will end badly-you will see
it will end badly, sure.'' and tonight
she seemed more unquiet than usual.
.'Knowest thou at what hour thy IA
Their will return?n she said to her daugh-
Ter. presently,
Not before II, certainly. When fa-
ther dimes with the major commandant
thc title Lavigne had conferred upon
HIMSELF. he never returns till late, and
Berthinc hung the pot over the fire and
prepared to make the soup. All at once
she ceased to stir it; she was listening TO
an indistinct noise that came down the
Hue OF the chimney.
Some one is walking in the WOOD
she said; ''seven or eight people at least.
The old woman, frightened to death,
stopped her wheel and began to within
per.
l.. Mon Dieu, Berthine!'' she cried; land
thy father is from home!"
But Berthine did not reply, for at he
moment there was n knock at the door,
and a cultural voice demanded admit
lance.
Open or IN preak te toor, " the same
voice shouted u little later. Slipping the
revolver into her pocket, the young wo-
man crossed the room and, placing her
mouth to the keyhole, shouted in return;
And who are your "A detachment
from lie udder side,'' We'll what do
you wantf'' Something's to eat; l hat
peen lost since morning in te woods; open
or III preak te toor!'
Without waiting for him 10 put his
threat into execution, she slipped the
bolts: the door swung heavily upon its
hinges. and she saw in the pale, snowy
light of the forest IA group of soldiers
standing upon the step-the same. in
TACT. she had seen the evening before.
This is no time of night to ask for
food, -" she continued, in u r~esolute tone, ="
besides, | I'M alone in the house. with
only my mother"
Dat is noting, " replied the officer,
who seemed TO be IL good sort of a fellow,
1--WE shall do you no harm, but we must
hat something's to eat we fan NIT hunger
Very well. them" she responded,
ENTER. and l will see what l can do"
The men appeared, as the officer had
said, to be worn out with hunger and
fatigue. They had placed their guns and
caps in the corner. and now sat about the